Ex-megachurch worker wants sex abuse case tossed

Monday

Jan 21, 2013 at 12:53 PM

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A former Tulsa megachurch worker accused of making a lewd proposal to a child wants the case against him tossed because he says prosecutors didn't present enough evidence at a preliminary hearing.

Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A former Tulsa megachurch worker accused of making a lewd proposal to a child wants the case against him tossed because he says prosecutors didn't present enough evidence at a preliminary hearing.

Israel Castillo is a former janitor at the 17,000-member Victory Christian Center. He's accused of sending explicit Facebook messages to a 14-year-old girl he had known for at least two years.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Court documents say a Tulsa judge is expected to rule at a Tuesday hearing whether the case against Castillo should go forward.

If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

Another ex-employee, Chris Denman, pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl and other sex crimes and was sentenced last month to 55 years in prison.